Ten Simple Tips for Taking Great Photos

Over the years, as career, travel and family took precedence in my busy life,
 I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed photography.
But now that I have a blog, I've learned that good pictures are a crucial part of it
and the lure of capturing images that tell a story has been reawakened.

I'm always trying to improve my photography skills and
Ron, who was a professional photographer for many years,
even says my photos are good. And that's quite a compliment.

So, without getting into aperture settings and all that technical stuff,
I'd like to offer a few easy tips for taking good pictures.

All you need to do is take the time to notice details like lighting and composition,
and keep a simple digital camera handy. 

In fact, all of these pictures were taken with this camera that fits in my pocket. 

Here are my top ten tips:

1. Photograph outdoor scenes on an overcast day. 

Your garden may look beautiful in the bright sun but the camera sees the shade too and 

the picture will look splotchy. An overcast day will provide softer, more even light.

2. Pay attention to mirrors.

Tilt mirrors down a bit and make sure you don't see yourself in it or pick up a flash. 

Keep in mind the image you're reflecting in the mirror.

3. Take time to frame your shot. 

An object in the foreground will give the picture depth, scale and perspective.

4. Position your subject off center. 

The composition will look better and more natural.
Mix it up by taking some vertical shots as well as horizontal ones. 

5. Get close. 

Details are lost if you're too far away. Notice contrasting textures and shapes.

6. Look for interesting angles and how light hits your subject. 

This can make an ordinary picture dramatic like this shot of the Eiffel Tower at night. 

7. Keep it steady.

 If you have a shaky hand, take a deep breath, let it out, then click.

8. Look out!

Watch out for distractions (like this pole coming out of my head, overhead lines, trash, etc.). 

The camera will see them even if you don't notice.

9. Get up early or sneak out in late afternoon. 

When the sun is lower in the sky, it creates unusual shadows and picks up more details.

10. Tell a story. 

Make your photo personal and evocative.

And, most importantly, remember to always take your camera with you!
Have fun and good luck!

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